From vvhence my heart my soule which seeth in me nothing els but sinne would not be so conturbated so much out of frame by reason of the contemplation of the thought of the miserie of it's sinnes I haue reflected on other past and former times and recording them remembring my selfe of them I haue thought of the felicitie in which thy largesse thine infinite bountie stated our first Father and likewise shall I weigh how hee was punished by thee for the transgression of thy Commandement not onelie that hee should dye but also that liuing hee should sweat feare be a cold be hungry bashfull and should haue all other such like passions with vvhich each man is borne through sinne drawing on himselfe such thy disdeigne And further meditating on all thy vvorkes vvhich giue vnto vs health conserue our liues saue our soules heare fauourablie our prayers and make vs vvorthy of thy grace and ruminating also on the day night moone starrs sunne water aire fire Heauens deepes mountaines vallâ—…ys plaines woods birds brute beasts on the hot the cold the temperate season the vvinds the haile the snow the Clouds raine and on all that vvhich is apparent besides vvhat is vnder the phantasy and human imagination and knowing that such admirable mysteries are workes of thy hands to the end onelie that our soule to vvhich thou bearest an immense and vnspeakable loue for that it is made to thy likenes may enioie thy Paradise and among thy Angels in this knowledge I haue lamented the infelicitie the â—…nhappines into vvhich my sinne hath brought me and each day fearing the sword of thy iustice which hangeth ouer my head it vvas doubtfull that I had not been ruinated and vtterly ouerthrown in despaire but the sinne the stedfast hope of my safety which my desert leadeth mee to my desert through my most profouÌ„d my most deeply coÌ„ceiued greife which I haue for that sinne vvhich first drew mee from thee teacheth me to implore mercie at thy hands I haue vnfolded my hands to thee and in such manner and in such carriage in such act I haue demoÌ„strated the lowlines of my heart and the dispositioÌ„ the inclinatioÌ„ of my minde in so doing I haue made appeare that I vvas vnlike to brute beasts vvho haue their hearts fixed on the earth vvithout any spirit or sparke of reaâ—…on and in such remorse of it's se feâ—…l haue opened the mouth of it craâ—…g of thee calling vnto thee imploring remission of my transgressions and to shew vnto thee that I onelie desire and nothing so much as to be returned into thy fauour into thy grace behold here my Lord that euen now newly and againe I doe beseech thee vvith mine armes extended and with mâ—… tongue and vviâ—…h my lowly humble minde that thou please to shower poure downe on mee thy grace and mercy for my soule is euen yea and no otherwise then aâ—…d dry earth vvithout water in thy presence vvater mee I say shower on mee cast on me thy grace vvhich if so thou doe I shall bring forth to my saluation most plentifullie and abundantlie fruite as doth the earth replenished vvith it's moisture vvhen the heauens in it's due season povvre on it raine vvhence Aprill all jocund all delightfully pleasant taketh pleasure singular content to see it's meadovves it's gardens vvhich by meanes of the vvaters bring afterwards forth roses and flovvers and likevvise fruites of all kindes Heare me fauourablie yea and speedilie my Lord and let fall vpon me the irrigations the waterings of thy grace for I am prepared to receiue them in my soule and that hence onelie for that the intention of my extreame bad will is novv changed is not now wretchedlie bent and maligne desire teacheth me no more she weth me no more to flie into the bosome of vice it flyeth its inticements euen as sence flyeth reason and the bodie the scourge hence maist thou shovver on me thy diuine grace for I shall receiue it in my soule with that proper and euer seene greedines that dry and barren land and the aâ—…d and parched sands receiue drinke vp blesse the showers of raine vvhich fall from Heauen in the midâ—…t of sommer and the fruite which the land promiseth thus enabled thus notablie supplied by the vvaters which haue been verie singular helpes and vvelcome guests to their vvelfare slaking yea satisfying their thirsts doth my penitence promise to thee Lord so let it be that thy grace vvhich I so much call out for and with a lowd voice abundantlie fall on me for vvith earnestnes and fulnes of sinceritie I craue it I implore it Hide not thy face from me depriue me not of thy gratious aspect although I am vnworthie to coÌ„template it to be such a fauourite of thy benignitie for if so that I perceiue my selfe to be bereaued thereof I should then cleane loose my selfe I should then be out of my vvitts I should not knovv vvhat to judge aright euen as a Pilot vvhom the impetuous furious and outragious vvindes haue bereaued of helpe and all judgment and I should become like to those vvho goe dovvne into the Lakes Truelie Lord if I should once take notice that I were banished from thy sight I should be drovvned in desperation and so my wickednes my abhomination by vvhich I am insulted on as the Mariner by tempests and fearefull and terrible vvaters in vvhose furious merciles depthes hee is alvvaies yea euen readie to be svvalloued vp So that I humblie beseech thee withdravv not retire not no way hiâ—…e thy face thy gratious aspect froÌ„ me in which is seated the hope the helpe and the beatitude that blessing and the inexpressible ioy of each one vvho good is to the end that I fall not miserablie into the profound deepâ—… Center bottomlesse pit horride â—…ulfe of despaire I am sure that though my sinne through it's hainousnes hath passed the bouÌ„ds of anie remissioÌ„ yet is God inclinable disposed readie to pardon me for that I haue learned yea I knovv hovv to implore him for mercie farther I am vndoubtedlie ascertained that hee will neuer slake neuer deferre put of the forgiuing of anie vvho is not sluggish to craue vvho loytereth not to repeÌ„t himselfe for his clemencie hath such povver that it can in one moment in one instant cancell the sinnes of many long runne yeares In this euen now in this present morning let me know the nobility dignitie exceâ—…lencie of thy mercie and remitting all my greiuous offences shew vnto my repentance to my hearts sorrovv that it availeth any one to haue hoped in thee to haue put trust in thee but if so that thou heare me not fauourablie gratiouslie vvhat example vvould they patterne by vvho think resolue to returne into thy grace through meanes of punishing themselues for their former wickednes girding themselues vvith sackcloath so cloated Pardon me ô my Lord my God and retard not delay not prorogue not For besides that the vveake body is
succeedeth praise and to Gods glorie the conuersion of Nations and to Hierusalem and Sion peace and the speculation the contemplation shall bring ioy singular hearts-comfort true faith obtained the true most perspicuous light of trueth by meanes of the seruants and friends of Christ then shall the world triumphe in it's perfect ioy for that God shal be accorded God shall haue made attonement vvith man in testimonie whereof hee shall forget the disobediēce of him that vvas expelled banished from terrestriall Paradice for hauing valued an aple at an higher rate then God's commandement But vvhen so the name of our Lord shal be preached through all the world congregating and gathering together contemplation speculation and peace in one both kings people to the end they may serue God the Christ ā Church into which shall be collected assembled the people as also Kings Maketh this ansvvere to God who in the vvay of his goodnes his vertue called it his spouse it pleased him to see it held in reuerēce much honored by the selected number of the good Shew me the length of my dayes sincel perceiue I clearlie see my accrease aduancement and glorie Kings and people coming to me for no other end but to serue thee And so much doth it say alvvaies beholding it's greatnes as if it had before it all Hereticks all Antichristians all false Apostles vvho vvill come to molest it to displease it to vvrong it to trespasse against it vvith the malitious peruersnes of their deuillish doctrines vvith the power and might of their abominablie vvretched vvorckes and vvith the deceipt of a fained goodnes And thus earnestly encited prouoked vvith a sensible feare conuerting it selfe to thee vvith all it's feruour possiblie yet againe thus proceedeth Let not thy goodnes call me away in the midst of my dayes Lord thy dayes thy yeares thy time shall out last all generations and shall transcend all ages but I vvho perceiue dangers to be hāging ouer me which tongues ill example and wretched mindes of wicked Christians will attempt to make me headlonglie fall into am in great feare lest I become les◅ened and faile in the midst of my dayes as doe the lambs of a flocke decrease in nūber trhough the rott For it seemeth to me alreadie to be gouerned by the rod of some pastors much more greedie desirous of my blood of the blood of my flocke then vvill they be of my firmenes my strength my constancie and their safetie their saluation hence trembling not vvithout reason not vvithout great cause I humblie craue that thou let not me become lesse faile in the fairest bloome yea flovver of my youth and remember reflect hereō that I am thine handmaid and thy spouse hence is there no reason that I faile to flourish Grāt vnto me that I may liue euer joyned to thee vvho shalt euer be alwaies liue at least as long as the vvorld and human generation lasteth and that shall so be if so thou from age to age from nation to natiō mainteine me in the hearts in the vnion of kings and people Thou Lord in the beginning didst make the Earth and the Heauens are workes of thy hands and in the labours of such operations of such vvorkes thou shevvedst thy povver thy glory thy eternitie so didst thou to the end that vvee might liue here below vntill that our workes might deserue there aboue their revvard so boundles is the loue that thou vvho art the maket of all things dost beare to vs who setting aside the priuiledge which wee haue of being of thy making wee are euē as things of nothing Thou my Lord God madst the Sunne the Moone the Starres vvith other Heauenly vvorkes of thy euerlasting hands and all for vs for our soules to speculate on to looke on to contemplate vvhose soules free in their election in their choise are able if vvilling to be accepted of admitted and to be receiued in the Colledge in the fellowship of Angels in the order in the state and ranke of Archāgels in the number of Cherubins in the quire of Seraphins and in the societie of all the military troopes of Heauen treading vnder our feete the Celestiall signes Planets vvhich shall haue an end if so it shall please thee They shall perish but thou shalt alvvaies be thou shalt alvvaies remaine and they shal be consumed come to nothing like garments It is true Lord that what participateth not in condition in qualitie and substance of thy eternitie shall become fume shall resolue it selfe into smoke shall come euē to nothing but those things vvhich haue measure haue quantitie and substance from thee shall remaine entire for that thou onelie art eternall and the Heauens participaters of thy vertue shall remaine together with all other things that thy omnipotēcie please remaine as our soules vvhich thou createdst for if that they through themselues be not deficient they eternally dwell with thee But each other thing shall decline be vvorse and vvorse euen as daylie worne cloathes are become at length through cōtinuall wearing nought vvorth altogether vvorne out consuming as doe all terrestriall things And in this secōd death wherevvith time armed vvith yeares beateth dovvne and maketh an end of all things thy power and eternity is demonstrated is clearly shevven vvhich can doe vvhat it vvill hence if it please thee thou vvilt likevvise change the Heauens So that it please thee if thou vvilt thou shalt remoue the heauens out of such their now place and thou shalt change them as a garment for the same power thou hast on the world thou hast on the Heauēs thou hast made them and thou canst destroy them thou canst pull them all to pieces vnioynt them remoue them from their proper spheres and in a moment thou canst make other axeltrees new Poles and other lights other Sunn 's other Starres other Moones and the Heauens vvith it's lights shal be subiect to change and increase of number if it so be thy will But thou art alwaies the same vvithout being vnder any other power but thine owne selfe-same and thy yeares vvill not faile for time hath nothing to doe vvith them they are not subjects to time hence they shall alvvaies haue being they shall neuer haue end nor though there pa◅e it importeth not hovv many lusters hovv many ages hovv many hūdred yeares to thee the accompte is euen of one day is not diminished is not vvanting for thou art hee vvho is author of the selfe same Eternitie vvhich ought necessarilie must be vvith thee alwaies in it's proper state in it's proper povver And for that thy pitty commiseration thy mercie is infinite answerable to the affection to the great loue thou bearest vnto vs the ofsprings the sonnes of thy seruant shall liue and inhabite vvith this thy eternity and the generation of them shall euer remaine be conserued for euer and from hence thy graces occasion that thy mercie dilate extend
owne state vnder pretext of scnding Vrias the Hittite husband of this his Idol to secure victory gaue him vp a prey to the enimies sword that he being made away he migh become husband to the others w◅fe vvhom he loued more then God or himselfe and such his desire obteined that lasciuious bed enioyed by vvhose like the vvorld's conceiued notable offence and heart-burning hath often turned Empires and Kingdomes Nathan the Prophet deeply vveighed his enormities yet compass◅onating him in plaine termes laid before his vnderstāding his iniustice asvvell in murder as also in adultery contrary to his Maker's commands The good old man astonished vvith the punishments vvhich Heauen prepared for his sinne felt asvvell from his soule heart as also his senses his desire his fire his ouer vveaning delight to for sake him to departe to vanish euen as heate from the limbs and the heart in the encounter of ought vvhich maketh it shake for feare yea miserably tremble sovvas he taken on the sodaine so liuely and sprightly vvas his apprehension that he forth vvith rent from his head and body his crovvne royall purple garment flung his scepter on the ground made an exchange of the great height pride of his dignity for an humble p◅nitency couering againe his euen naked body with sackeloth the haire of his head and venerable beard negligently disordered the one and other white in honor of his age thinking vvith himselfe that he vvas a sinner not a King he seemed in his countenance euen penitence it self ◅ He tooke to him his Harpe vvhich instrument euermore offered vp his lamentations sent from his heart to the happy blessing of his soule Moreouer he retired himselfe into an obscure place vnder ground as it vvere a prison of his sinne No sooner entred he but his thoughts vvere further affrighted by the darkenes of the caue He notvvithstanding neglecting these horrors vvithout any delay tooke deeply yea and to heart hovv he ought to doe to appease his God he humbly kneeled tooke his instrumēt aptely placing it to his breast rarely composing his countenāce erecting it to Heauen the sorrovvfull sound of his sighes acquieted touching the strings and most tenderly vvith a svveet feruour deliuered to God these follovving vvords THE FIRST PSALME OF THE PENITENCY OF DAVID Domine ne in furore Psalme 6. LORD since thou giuest leaue to me to pronounce thy name and that my tongue may call thee my Lord my heart hence taking an happy coniecture fauoureth my hope that it's penitēcy hath in thy clemency and mercy where with thou doest comfort those vvho are truely sad for their offences against thee Hēce I am emboldened with my voice and teares in such manner to conjure thee by thy goodnes that thou please not although th◅u art incensed against me for my sinnes to chastise me in thine anger O God I feare thee and repent me from the bottome of my heart that I haue not feared thee and am fully resolued to feare thee truely hence behold me not with that wrathfull aspect vvith vvhich thou lookedst on humane kinde when as the pride of their wickednes thought not onely to equalize but to trālcēd thy mercy for which cause thy then present will and command did scatter the clouds through the ai◅e and did breake the prisons of the winds laid open the cataracts or sluices of the heauē tooke dayes light away confounded all by whales and shooke it by thunder lightning trees crashing by stormes human kinde rooted out with all liuing creatures ouerthrowne beaten downe Thou did'st not onely drowne the face of the Earth but the brow of the Alpes and tops of the mountaines in like manner Hence tookest thou away the foule soile vvherevvith the common and generall vice had sullied and defiled all the parts of the vniuerse the most abominable ofspring of the people destroyed thou did'st in such sort purifie it as I desire by meanes of my penitency to cleanse yea purifie my soule lo as behold me not with the countenance vvherevvith thou lookedst on the rebells in that time vvhen Noah and the rest were saued in the A◅ke but reflect on me be mindefull of me as thou vvert of him vvhom thy diuine favour and singular benignity saued from the dreadfull deluge and cleare my minde too too much busied with phantasies and those yea such most vaine euen as sometymes thou clearedst the heauens troubled by clouds vvhich lay ouerthwart before the lampe of the vvorld and let it please thee to secure me frō the punishmēt vvhich is euen ready to be inflicted on my sinne the reflecting on which mooueth in me a quiuering not vnlike to a twigge in y e water Let it suffice that I cōfesse my errors my greiueous offences the feare which I apprehend of thine anger at the day of Iudgmēt at vvhich time the teares and sighes of the culpable of the vvicked shall haue no more place in thy mercy nor vvilt thou in their behalfe be further for them as novv benignely thou art and thou wilt be for euer and euer our good and pious Lord. Lord euen for feare meditating on thy iudgment vvhich possesseth me yea euen all my spirits keepe back retaine altogether thy vvord in that dire◅ull day Vouchsafe not onely not to chastise me but also not too seuerely inflict on me punihment conformable to the tenor of thy iust ire prouoked by our greiueous faults vvhich although thou pardonest vs whilst thou correctest vs for our offēces make me yet not withstanding trēble For the correctiōs of the sinne of makinde are cōflicts banishmēts plagues stripes hūger wāts bondage dishonor hostility losse of children and stings of conscience Pacifie thine ire good Lord vvith vvhich my greiueous trespasses haue inflamed thee for the good that I am ready to worke by thy pitty haue mercy on me for that I alas am sick My very heart is wounded by that selfsame arrovv vvhich the bow of feare of damnation hath shott at it my soule bewailing languisheth for that my infirme body giueth it an inckling yea as it vvere a notable signe of estrangeing it selfe from it not ought reguarding the state of my disgrace vvich thee My senses are not sensible my tast hath no tast mine eyes see not my sense of feeling doth not apprehēd it's obiect my smelling doth not distinguish odors nay smell at all my hearing heareth not my infirmity is such as that it is not content vvith the help of plants nor the force of charmes Earthly physiek cannot be a salue to my sores in it there is no validity to cure my such heauy suffrances for thou onely cāst cure them and if thou composest not remedies for my maladies I cannot recouer my health hence lament I and with the teares which euen come from my heartes veines I beseech thee my Lord that thou deigne to heale me fully and compleatly My senses and my soule vvhi◅h are in their hot and cold fitts promooued by the
force and desire vvhich I haue of my not hauing power and of my willingnes to be recoÌ„cilled to thee are full of vaine empty idle phantasies doe dote like one who is besides himselfe become such by the great affliction occasioned by his feauer in so much as he is one while hot not vnlike to fire another while cold as ice and the same heate which dryeth yea parcheth his lips is found in me who onelie desire to drinke of the fountaine of thy mercy which doth more comfort him who drinketh thereof then doth water prejudice the sick Alas my good Lord grant vnto me that I may moisten my mouth from thy grace and goodnes for that elswhere is not health for me I doubt Lord lest I heape offence on offences by my importunity being vnworthy to craue thy mercy but my sinne which pierceth me quite though in such sort that it hath seated it selfe in my bones and marrow maketh me ouerbold and indeed as it were impatient my bones troubled notably disquieted yea wasted through my insupportable griefe are vnknit their sinnewes are vntyed but peradueÌ„ture the danger is more greiueous theÌ„ the sicknes for that I being composed of flesh and sensible of it's suffering doe feare lest I proue not valiant in the combate in which if I faile my eternall losse of soule might follow and vndoubtedly I shall yeild to the force of it's assaults if so be thou defeÌ„d me not vnder the buckler of thy mercy Lord my soule is beyond measure troubled so many and such like are the temptations which asseige it It hath for a receptacle yea and castle weake human flesh the hostile armes of wordly vanities haue conspired vsed stratagems against it and the senses which reanswere to their flatteries corrupted by stately and most magnificent sights by hearing the harmony of flattery and selfepraise by sweet and most odoriferous smellings by tasting the delicacie of meates and by feeling sensibly voluptuousnes endeauour to render it a prey to the pleasure of the world Hence the miserable soule flyeth for refuge to and vnder the shade of the hope which it hath in thee euen as a child vnder the skirt of his mothers garment The Hart so much feareth not the cruell and mortall bitings of doggs vvho is euen then ready to be sharply nipt as my soule feareth my aduersaries vvho inveigle it Since so it is with me support it with thy mercy if not I shall faile yea euen fall into my irrecouerable and vtter destruction and though it vvere so that I cannot at present merit so farre that thou grant me my petition how long wilt thou please to deferre thy such gratious aspect with which thou doest fill with joy and blisle the Angells Thou moouest the Heauens assignest bounds to the ElemeÌ„ts giuest motion to the Planets makest the Sunne to shine giuest light to the Moone brightnes to the Starres Alas yea and alas ô Lord take in thy attentiue consideration the misery into which the not hauing known as I might haue donne through thee to bridle my proud will hath brought me to I say and the not hauing hetherto reflected on my selfe knowingly vvho being composed of earth must necessarily returne againe to my mother earth and hence restored to my flesh and bones for my greater confusion must appeare before thy IudgmeÌ„t in the presence of all such who haue been vvho are and vvho as yet not in being shall hereafter be Grant vnto me Lord that I may imagin but not see that thou forgettest me for by meanes of such imaginatioÌ„ I shall learne to put thee in minde of my exigents my great wants extreame necessities as well by fasting as prayer in seeing here of I might not vnlikely despaire of pardon mercy vvhich they finde vvho though they haue disobayed thee yet chastise theÌ„selues vvith the scourge working to amendment of life Looke againe on my soule my Lord vvith the selfe same benigne countenance vvith vvhich thou fauourably dost behold him vvho by long penitence is more worthy then am I poore wretch and consider it to haue more shame and confusion in it's trangresse of thy coÌ„mandements then in it's feare of eternall banishment and vtter losse vvhich attend's it for it's foule sinnes My hearts quelling heauines vvould bee singularly cheered if so be that thou wouldst with thy fauorable aspect appease the contestation afflicting it vvhich presents to my Phantasie to my minde thoughts raised from the day-booke of my sinnes Surely I shall henceforth be more solicitous to serue thee then heretofore I haue been as hauing been slow carelesse and altogether dully sottish O my Lord if without all feare and trembling I might call vpon thee vvould'st thou not vouchsafe an answere to me at least should my dayes proue long vvhich thou lendest me to liue I should truely hope that sack cloath teares sorrow vvatching fasting would obtaine yea vvinneso much in my behalfe that thy grace vvould shower on me in such manner that I should be receiued no otherwile then as they are vvho through their truely humbling themselues haue returned into thy grace their peace so made My sinnes indeed deserue any whatsoeuer paine may be inuented yea but it would not be conuenient it alas would be my vtter vndoing that thy benignity should retard it selfe be slow ought remisse to shew it selfe vnto me and that with plentifull mercy on my greiuous offences which I deny not I hide not but if sinne were not thy clemeÌ„cy would not appeare what it is admitt that there is no clemency by which way should sinners acknowledge their good God in his mercy Euen now Lord giue quiet to the soule which vvith an adueâ—…se eye of enemity troubledly gazeth on the body not vvithout iust cause of offence for that through it's inordinate appetites the soule is euâ—…n condeÌ„ned to the euerlasting punishments of Hell as for my body which dayly nightly incessantly is gnawne and worne by its consciences affliction soone vvill fall soone become ashes if thou be not to it it 's sustentacle it 's strength it 's full vigour alas my my soule dying in such state vvill goe to a place which I haue horror to name yea to thinke of But if I dy my Lord not being among the dead vvho can call thee to minde how shall I make mentioÌ„ of thee how shall I call on thy name on vvhose name neuer any called in vaine vnprofitably and most true it is that there is no comfort so fully consoling the heart so restoratiue to it as is the hearing voiced the harmonious sound thereof Thy name appeaseth the afflictedst vexations greifes and addeth increase of ioy yea euen to those vvho vvere before in state of comfort Hence let me not periâ—…h vntill I write of the great vertue the swetnes the ioy the povver the health vvhich is in it Let the world heare and vnderstand by my vvords vvith what coÌ„fident security vvith vvhat grace and vvith vvhat abundant felicitie
patiēt men can endure me But alas for my offence to Heauen my Lord is hidden from me Ah! the corruption of this my soule doth moue his displeasure vvhich hee gaue me vnspotted nor doe I wretch accuse my frailty nor any oc◅asion whatsoeuer presented to me but I lay iustly all my ouerweening indiscretion and folly vvhich hath giuen it selfe ouer to be led by the snares of the vvorld yea euen to making it selfe a prisoner of sinne vvhose flatteries vvhose alluremēts doe entice me in such māner that I am not aware of the danger that the putrefactiō which breaketh forth of my vvounds do dravve on me vvhich my vaine ◅ottishnes mixt with madnes hath opened againe vvith late trespasses In the opening of my searres I haue clearlie discerned t◅e milerie into vvhich my not ser◅eing God hath brought me the pr◅de of my minde raised on the vvings of vvorldlie felicitie vvordlie delight in so much as I seemed to be full possessor full Lord of all worldlie contents is now come dovvne stoopeth is become lovvlv hūble euen as trees brāches sprouting out boldlie heauen-ward are wrought downe are made lower vvhē the Sheepheard vvill bēd them dovvnevvard and I being become euen crooked vnder the vveight of the pleasures of my losse will leaue to stoope vnder the heauy burthen of hearts-greife for my saluation euen to my liues end and the deepe conceiued melancholie vvhich I tooke to my selfe of my trespas vvhence all the day I vvalked in such a manner heauilie sadde vvith much vnquietnes as doth hee vvho is afflicted yea torne to peece vvith the stings of conscience which are more fierce more cruellie sharpe then are the torments of the strapado of the gallovves and scourges for that it was the motion the instigation to make me remember my selfe let it be vnto me conuerted turned into fulnes of joy for I am determined to arme my reason with the teares of penitencie and I am sure that it vvill ouercome vvith them the pride of sense vvhich more feareth the shadovv of correction then doth the braue Coursier the rod. But since that my loines are fraught vvith illusions for that my soule is environed vvith reflections vpon the vanities of vanities vvhere with it is possessed in vvhich it is so much ouervveeningly enthraled I may vvell say that I enioy no health that I am vveake and feeble in◅eede that in my limbs there is no soūdnes the faculties of my senses are cleane lost my hands mine eyes mine eares my mouth and my nose are depriued of their due operations brieflie all the faculties which God hath giuē me as guifts of his bountie I finde corrupted to haue lost their validity and to the end that I should knovv him onelie and my health onelie from which I shall alwaies be farther and farther of for that I haue been estranged from my Lord vntill th◅t I framed my selfe to lay open my sinnes in song vvith teares if I doe not mortifie my selfe in the afflictiōs of penitency I haue afflicted my selfe and humbled my selfe exceedingly vvith teares sent from the bottome of my heart for that reflecting on thee I euidently savv mine offences the knowledg of which hath turned my felicities into miseries hath made humble my pride and hath mollified the hardnes of my heart and by the vvaies of trueth and sincerity hath purified all my senses vvhich vvere co◅upted neuer resting but in the mansions of goodnes nor want I ought but the fortitude and constancy vvhich commeth from thee and from thy largesse together vvith that ve◅ue vvhich thou giuest for guide to all thē vvho earnestly craue it of thee as now doe I vvith all my faculties vvhich abandon occasions and grounds all leading subiects to sinne vverefore let not thy aide be vvanting to me or in ought remisse I know surely most vndoutedly that thou art more clement then I am vniust and no lesse know I that thou vvilt be more commiserable to me then I haue been wretchedly cruell against thee and blessed were Dauid if he could frame his petitions craue his pardon proportionable to the extent of vvhat thou canst grant cāst forgiue and thrice happy shall I be if so that I be patiēt in the bewailing my sinne ansvvereably to thy longanimitie and patient suffering of me a greiueous sinner O my gratious good Lord before thee apparant to thee who through the foggie mistie darkenes seest that which to any other eye is impossible to be seene and who◅e eyes through-passe the inmost Cabinets of hearts as the Sunne penetrateth pure christall all my desire is trāsferred which not hauing other voice then it which is euen ouerflowne vvith teares cannot duelie and as it ought expresse all my trespasses all that I vvould it should And therefore it is hence dispatched as a messenger from me to the sight and throne of thy Majestie car◅ying vvith it engrauen in the blank of my heart what my prayers cannot deliuer so is it that my disabilitie by vvordes to performe so much as from my soule I desire the selfe same vvords not vocally breathed forth remaine insculpt in it through the true feruour of my contrition ah looke on my vvillingnes which hath taken it's seate in my heart and thou shalt clee◅ly reade the purpose the resolutiō it 's minde hath made to enroll it selfe vnder thy banners to bee thy soldier to fight thy fight vvith a more then most determinate vvill neuer to disobey thy discipline glorious Leader neuer to sinne against thee Ah! poore vvretch that I am my eyes vveepe yet distill they such small drops that they are not sufficient to extinguish the fire which my ardent desire is taken vvith of crauing yea impetrating of thee mercy and to account my teares of weight enough to ouerpoise my sinnes in scale of iustice my new faults would weigh down transcend my amendment so farre as greater is the omnipotent power of God thē the alas weake strēgth weake power of terrestriall Kings but it sufficeth me that I am penitent thē my Lord behold with vvhat will with what true and zealous resignation my heart is all ouerflowne as vvas the world in it's deluge by invisible teares vvhich are evident to thee vvho knowest vvhen it weepeth vvhen it is aggreiued and vvhen it reioyceth more valuing one tea◅e and the least sadnes of it then a thousand from the eyes My heart whose teares haue appaied thee as one vvho is good is satisfied by the candid and sincere meaning of any one is troubled cōtristated for that the faculties and the strength columnes pillars of my soule haue abandoned me haue vtterly forsaken me and I am miserably shaken vvith feare of my destruction and vtter losse since that I finde I am depriued of such sustentacles such maine supporters Ah! hereon speake vvho vvill sensibly deliuer their mindes vvho I say vvill who is hee and vvho would not feare to be depriued of such like associates such companions Fottitude and the vertue
my flesh that I seeme to be a bodie hunger-starued cōsumeth for want of foode in vvhich is shutt vp a spirit so weake so ouertyred vvith faintnesse that vvith much difficultie can it send forth so much vitall breath that may shevv that it liueth and to this state am I reduced to this passe am I come for that I haue not nourished my soule vvith thy foode hence is it that my bones are destroyed my strength gonne and the forces the vertue of my soule each day more and more consuming through my faults my trespasses I am reduced to such an estate that I am as it were a man who lying on the earth can hardlie be thought either to be aliue or dead and through thus such like vveaknes I haue so litle breath so litle strēgth in me that I fere I cannot open my mouth to comfort me vvith the bread of health vvhich the hope giueth me vvhich my teares haue in thee I say those teares vvhich my heart powreth forth to make thee fo◅get my transgressions I am become like a Pellican saist thou by my tongue I apprehēd it I vnderstand it right well for that in enlightning me and giuing me grace that I may conceiue it thou dost througlie purifie my spirit dost giue light force to such a tenor to such being to such an height that I returne reassume to speake in thy name in thy person and hence thus doe I speake I am like a Pellican I vvill open my breast with the bill of my mercifull vvill and in the sollitude of the vvorld vvhich vvell may be so termed for that in it respect had to thee relation to thee vveighed each one is dead vvith my bloud will I resuscitate raise againe Nations the Gentiles as doth the Pelcan his young ones vvho dead reassume life in the blood of the bird which hath brought them forth but euen as the Ovvle in his place of abiding in his perching place seeth nothing but darknes so I in the vvorld shall see no other but obscuritie heauy gloomy darkenes of sinne fogḡs mists of pride and smokes of vanity Yea yet and againe thou speakest my Lord saying I avvaked watched and am become like a sollitarie sparovv vpon the roofe of an house thy vvord meaning that when others shall esteeme thee dead thou wilt vvatch thou wilt avvake vvhich is asmuch to say that to our seeming resuscitating rising againe the third day thou shalt haue seemed to haue slept but in the dayes that thou shalt sleepe imposing end making completion of thy miraculous workes vvhich thy vvill hath decreed to expedite to finish compleatile vvith thy vvorkes thou shalt euen sweat take heauie paines for the common good the common safetie of all the Vniuerse of all the vvorld and breaking rending a sunder and in peices the gates of Hell vvith the force of thy pitty thy tender mercie binding banishing and to euerlasting fire condemning our old aduersary thou shalt demonstrate in this such like slumber in this such like sleepe that thou vvert attentiue that thou wert alvvaies watchfull that thou didst fully vvatch for the publique benefit of thy creatures And in so doing thou vv◅lt resemble a louelie retired solitarie sparrow who after his flight from el◅vvhere strangerlike alone one onelie pitcheth himselfe allighteth and remayneth as in a place of rest in a house vvherein are manie people allodged I say that thou hauing disposed consummated those affaires vvhich thou hast to doe on the earth thou shalt aduance thy selfe and moūte to Heauen remayning euer after in Paradice with the Angels and among the soules as one onelie God and one onely Sauiour of the vvorld But thou procedest further in my vvordes At all times euen they vvho most especially should remember themselues of the benefits they haue receiued from my larges from my greate bounty calumniated me laid to my charge falslly malitiously crimes in such sort as if my good workes were vvicked and those vvho praised me in my presence speaking ill of me behinde my backe yea tearing me to pieces with their spightfull malitious tongues conspired against me as if I vvere not a Sauiour but a Tyrant of their vvell-being their safetie their saluation and it shal be true Lord that the vnfaithfull and they vvhose hearts are perfidious and blinde at the light of thy miracles taking in ill part thy vvonders which they cannot infringe cannot denie height of the vvorst of damnable vvretches then whom none exceede will come vvill arise against thee as vvol◅es doe against a simple most innocent lambe hauing no vvill to take notice to remēber themselues to haue knovvn the trueth of those thy misteryes in thy presence which they praised they extolled and farre othervvise farre from that trueth they made a head they made a congregation and sect against thy most just thy most precious blood yet shed for them so that they confesse and penitentlie acknovvledge that they vvrongfullie iniured thy innocencie vvith their enuie their malitious heart burning vvhich vvas invented against thee vpon those their false grounds vvhich one day thou vvilt deliuer and expresse thy selfe For I most humbly did eate ashes as bread I mingled my drinke with teares thanking them heartilie yea further enriching them vvith my fauours whosoeuer made me hott with the fire of charitie and sprinkled and dropped on me these ashes and these teares giuing me them to dinner to supper The enuie and vvickednes of the vnjust disquieted me molested me vvith the iniuries of reprehension rebuke controll it displeasing them that I should re ceiue into my grace sinners by reason of the vertue of their repentance And not onelie vvill they seeke in such manner by such ill offices to calumniate me to detract from me and to forge crimes against me but they vvill machinate vvorke prepare death to me innocent for my innocencie And as sure as ought can haue infallibilitie this shall follovv shall happen for that thou sayst it and for the falsenes the perfidiousnes and heighth of disloyaltie of the mindes of Princes of this people in their knovving that the preaching letting be divulged and declaring thy trueth is the end of destroying vvicked custome vvhich they vvill bring in practise to thy Church to depriue the poore ef their meanes vnder pretext of great deuotion greate zeale to sacrifice their guifts to thee by charge vvhereof their purses emptied they shabe open enimies of thy iustice and of thy trueth And for that that vvill be that thou vvillest be I speake in the person of human kinde vvho speaketh vvith the tongue of the first father Through thine anger and thy disdeigne thy wrath moued in thee through my sinne vvhich I Adam transcending the bounds of obedience committed I was depriued be◅eft of the principallest state of happines of felicitie and beatitude of the blessed yision of all goodnes of God and I was through mine error my fault my sinne cast dovvne into ruines from a precipice I vvas
and to ouerjoy 〈◊〉 such like as are they who are ascended to the height to the compleate fulnes of Beatitude vvhich they desired And in this his suddaine surprise of hearts salaâ—…e hearts inexpressible comfort his spirit attentiue nay fixed on diuine â—…ontemplations hee savv as it vvere in a vision the vvord of God to come dovvne from Heauen and to proceed from the mouth of the Angell incarnating it selfe in the blessed Virgin hee savv Christ borne hee savv him adored by the Magj The three Kings he savv him dispute in the Temple hee savv him fly vvith his Mother into Egipt hee savv him baptized in IordaÌ„ he savv him with his Apostles he saw him hâ—…ale the â—…ick raise the dead and cast out Dewills and traunced extased in a Propheticall vision he savv him anointed by Magdalen savv him at his last supper vvâ—…h his Disciples savv him pray in the gardeâ—… savv him betrayed savv him scourged savv him crowned with thornes savv him adjuged to death saw him nayled on the Crosse and in seeing him breake the gates of Limbus hee vvas taken and fully possessed with that joy that vnspeakabls hearts-comfort which hee was to feele a sâ—…oone as Christ should redeeme him out of the darkenes together vvith his ancestors his forefathers and hee being sanctified in his merits hee savv him rise againe and in seeing him ascend to Heauen and to sit at the right hand of his father anevv breake forth into these vvords THE SEAVENTH PSALME OF THE PENITENCY OF DAVID Domine exaudi orationem meam auribus c. Psalme 142. LORD fauorably heare my suppliant petitions my humble prayer stitre vp thy selfe awakeÌ„ be thou moued to looke vvith the gratious eyes of thy mercie on my heart's sincere repentance which through the desert of prayers vvhich is tendred vnto thee is not vnworthy of thy gratious and fauorable audience thy trueth and thy iustice vvell weighed not according to the trueth iustice of thy Lawes vvhich condemne and inflict sharpe punishments sodainelie on sinne according to the qualitie the greatnes the hainousnes of the demerit but according to thy trueth and â—…ustice with which is ioyned that thy mercy vvhich is absolutelie and â—…olely in thee for thou being the author of the Law thou onelie through the height of thy bounâ—…ie caâ—…st forgiue the traÌ„sgressors acquit them of it There are many valued by thee iust vvho are accounted by the iudges of the world delinquents but the coÌ„trary seemeth to be in me for by the people I am deemed iust and in thy sight I know my selfe so burthened vvith trespâ—…sses that vntill I perceiue thou hast forgâ—…en me acquitted me of them I will neuer dry mine eyes they shall alwaies vvepe and I vvill neuer close vp my month I vvill alvvaies call on thee and I vvill neuer be at repose of heart vvhich imploreth it's Lord that hee Enter not into Iudgement on his seruant for to take notice of each fault trespasâ—…e on a seruant is not a vvorke vvorthy of a maister and to take animaduersion strict accounâ—…e of each our trippings our stumblings vvould be to make vs all despaire for if thou weigh the multitude of the fault we commit the vveight of them vvould be such that nothing would be found so burâ—…nsome hence vvee should be all lost and therefore forgâ—…t patcell of our trespasses let them not be brought and laid open before the Tribunall of thy most iust iudgment for that all those vvho hold themselues iust in the other life vvhen all human generation shall bee iudged thy shall not be iustified by thee Enlarge me be bountifull vnto me and make me vvorthy of the guâ—…fts of thy grace whereof by thy goodnes and thy bountie euerie man is made worthie vvho offereth the purenes and innocencie of his soule by tâ—…e meanes of a contrite heaâ—…t so shalt thou our God as it were substitute thy goodnes to my correction in reguard that it maketh for my saluation and thy glorie Nor for this cause shall thy iustice be impaired or lessened which were it not in so gâ—…eat a Majestie so greate is the presumption of mankinde that they vvould receiue as from a firme deed that the infinite benefits which they receiued of thee were due to theÌ„ by obligation whence it would follow that there were no way whereby those that are vvicked might come to amendment of themselues to correct themselues and those vvho are incorrigible vvho neuer wil be good but are peruerse and refractory who liuing haue not beleeued in thee shall in nothing be difâ—…erent from the good and those who haue recouered goodnes for as much as workes are not paid according to deserts herein it is necessary that thy justice faile not but whilst wee are in this life which is the place of our race which we must runne ouer to come to thee for this cause ought wee each one the reward being certaine and eternall extending it selfe beyond the bonds of sinne alwaies to determime time to abtaine the sett downe price which is not allotted to one onelie but to all those who shall come the goale to the bounds of the race Let damnation fall on them vvho haue depised so great a gaine so great a reward which thou hâ—…st published to be run for and to be revvarded though yet for their so small so slender desert when the time coÌ„meth of each one's receiuing râ—…vvard they doe not onelie finde themselues farreâ—… of from receiuing ought of valuation ought of price ought of reward but euidentlie they perceiue that they haue â—…rayed yea that they are altogether out of their way and hence so it happeneth for that they pursued lesse worthie ends and lesie honorable O Lord and my God the effects the fruits of sinne haue reduced me haue plunged me in obscuritie in darke places euen as are they vvho are dead for time and ages My sinne Lord hath seated me in darkenes for there is no greater obscurity then that vvhich is interposed betvvâ—…ene the vvay of good and the eye of our perceiuance Hence strayed vve and lost the light which directeth vs shevveth vs the vvay the meanes to come to our true end And certaine it is that a maâ—… blinded in the night the obscuritie the darkenes of sinne parteth not yet from day from light of vertue and trueth but hauing coÌ„tracted custome and habit in the clouds the mists and foggs of vice he is best and onelie pleased vvith them and onelie hateth the Sonne the light vvhich ariseth from the bosome of vertue and liuing well on vvhich if I had contemplated my spirit had neuer proued anxious full of greiuous care and my heart would neuer haue so much alas for me been troubled coÌ„tribulated Truely if I had opened mine eyes to the light of trueth â—…hutting them from the obscurities the darkenesses of falsenes of lyes contribulations and those anxious rising taking grouÌ„d from feare of damnation had not moued my spirit to reflect on it selfe
to suffer any to wrong to iniurie his seruants for in protecting them he salues he conserueth his owne proper honor And were it not that I deserue that thou applie thy mercie for other respect the desert the merit in acknowledgment that reallie I am thy seruant might take place and into this such like seruitude the sinne of the first man hath brought mee vvho so farre as concerneth him deserued eternall death but thy clemencie hath donne as doth a seuere vpright and iust father vvho being offeÌ„ded most greiuouslie by his sonne abstracting the loue of his flesh and blood yet pittie commiseration mercie giueth not way to him to punish him conformablie to the greatnes of his transgressions but depriuing him of his paternall inheritance by no meanes vvill he giue way that he be at all about him except onelie in the nature of seruaÌ„ts vvho necessarily must labour for their liuings vvith industrie much paine and sweat through continuall toyle Whence he vvho is iustlie punished through his fathers wrath remaineth in such a meane estare in such a low condition of life vntill such time that mercie time ouer coming disdeigne returneth him againe through his fauour into his first vvell being Lord I through my old former disobedience am become of a free man a â—…laue and I shal be like to the Sonne that hath prouoked his fathers vvrach against him hence it is expedient that I passe my daies in this state sweating labouring to appease thee vntill thy Sonne come to release me from the yoke of neck and soale vvhich the seruitude into vvhich human kinde is fallen into through the first transgression of thy commandement hath contracted Then vvee receiued againe into our first happines thou vvilt not receiue vs not account vs theÌ„ aliens straÌ„gers not slaues or bondmen but being made by thee Citizens of thy glorious Kingdome and Empire of HeaueÌ„ thou vvilt receiue vs through thy grace as sonnes of adoption The end of the seauenth Psalme THE EPILOGVE To the Seauen Psalmes of the penitency of David AFTER that attractâ—…ue loue of vvinning heavenly glory and the terrible feare of horrid punihment had moued Dauid in Seauen Psalmeâ—… to be waile his transgressions the hope of reward and the comfort of hearts-ioy inwardly conceiued for the fruites vvhich hee vvas hence to reape to gaine to vvinne thanked be his penitency he suddainely raised himselfe from the ground and standing bolt vpright on his feete first taking vp his harpe and placing it vnder his left arme novv armed with courage as 〈◊〉 man freed set at full liberty hee vvas so strangely enlightned that hâ—…e heard with the eares of his minde all the Psalmes vvhich hee had with teares sung rehearsed recorded and rarely warâ—…led by the Angells and being thus seriously attentiue to the harmony of their notes vvhich were deliuered by the Angelicall tongues voiced with an incomprehensible and vnspeakeable swetnes in an instant he found himselfe eased discharged of the burthen that his trespasses had laid on him hereby perceiuing that God had receiued him through his mercy into the bosome of that grace which hâ—…e so fervently implored he retired himselfe issued out of the tombe made hot by his â—…ighes and moist by his teares No sooner came hee to the light but that the aire it selfe seemed to cleare vp in the cheerefull splendor of his countenance vvhich though it were pale through fasting and obscure muddy svvarthy cloudy through his penitency his eyes seeming as it vvere without motion through his teares his spirits not vvithstanding vvere so purified by hauing entertained the grace of God vvhich made pure his soule with the selfe-same resplendeÌ„t light that the Angells aâ—…â—…luminated vvithall that his face seemed the face of Moyses glistering bright with that diuinity which God had thereon impressed vvhen as his magnificent his most high mighty majesty vvithin a Cloud of fire vvhose fllames hee composed of the streaming fulgore of the Sun and of the heate of the starres yet vouchsafed not to speake but gaue vvay granted that hee might behold those his most sacred and holy shoulders wherewith hee holdeth vp the Heauens all the Hemispheares Now Dauid inflamed with the holy Ghost vvith which our Lord had infused him for his repentance â—…eturned to instruct and correct his people who moued by the exaÌ„ple of their good King all their endeauours their workes turned to make themselues perfect in the â—…ight of him their God But vvhat fortunate ages vvhat blessed times vvould happily fall vnto their shares who so should be crovvned vvith such happines as is to liue vnder the lawes of those Princes vvho laying aside the height of minde and the pride of their Kingdomes coÌ„fesse the transgressions which they commit to the prejudice of men yea to the dishonor of God Trueâ—…y people would be more blessed then are they miserable if so that they vvho raigne I say not lameâ—… their cruelty injust homicides and adulteries with the same feruour of minde which David did his but if so that they no othervvise then if God were not or being haâ—… no power ouer their pride at least vvould not glory in their adulteries in their mâ—…thers and in their impieties vvhich daâ—… they greiâ—…ously and hainously offend 〈◊〉 vvith open deâ—…ng of him vvho first 〈◊〉 last punisheth or revvardeth each one The end of the Epilogue